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A British logistician is credited with coining the term “supply chain management” in the early 1980s, but it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that the world became familiar with such aspects of supply chain operations as logistics, inventory and supplier management, and procurement. The influence of supply chain leaders also has grown with the understanding of the importance of the supply chain in the global economy. Supply chain management is a complex field with many moving parts, and the need for accurate and reliable information is more crucial than ever. Industry leaders help facilitate discourse and spur innovation to shape the future of the supply chain. In this article, we highlight five of these supply chain leaders, showcasing their extensive expertise and experience in the industry and what they are planning for the future. Making Moves: Five Supply Chain Leaders on the State of the Industry 2024 has been an exciting year so far. The OSRA 2022 ruling went into effect to better regulate demurrage and detention charges; Chinese e-commerce businesses are heating up the airfreight industry; and in dire contrast, the U.S. trucking industry continues to struggle through a lengthened lean patch. In an increasingly volatile ecosystem, the industry…

Special Guest Blog Post written by Gary Smith, CPIM-F, CSCP-F, CLTD-F, Author of “The Bridge,” Supply Chain Engineer, and Educator   1. Do Supply Chains exist in the public sector? The short answer is “YES!” I spent the first 25 years of my career in the private sector where I worked in warehouse operations, industrial engineering, and consulting, all in the logistics andsupply chain area. I cut my teeth on retail, automotive, chemical, food and beverage, publishing, and manufacturing. During that time, I also completed projects for the public sector in education and for the Department of Defense. In 2005 I was named Director of Supply Chain Operations for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). We operated a 200,000 sq. ft. warehouse that shipped repair material to 335 developments in New York’s five boroughs. In 2013, I was named Vice President of Supply Logistics for New York City Transit, the largest public transportation organization in North America. We operated over 1.5 million sq. ft. of warehouse space covering all of New York City. Several years ago, I was on a national committee for the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM). We created this elevator speech to describe Supply Chain…